Site Grading From Rough to Finish-Ready
We move from rough grade to design grade to finish grade using GPS machine control and laser systems, holding the tolerances your paving, drainage, and building teams need. In Central Florida's flat terrain, every tenth of a foot matters — improper slopes trap water, void warranties, and create long-term liability for owners and GCs.
What is the difference between rough, design, and finish grading?
Rough grading moves bulk material to within roughly a foot of design elevations. Design grading brings the site to the engineered drawings — swales, pond slopes, pad perimeters. Finish grading is the precision trim, typically within a tenth of a foot, that paving and slab crews require. Earthscapes carries all three phases with GPS machine control and verifies drainage slopes before releasing any surface.
Problems We Solve
Flat Terrain That Doesn't Drain
Central Florida's naturally flat topography means designed drainage slopes have very little margin for error. A poorly graded parking lot or pad doesn't drain — it ponds. We hold minimum slopes of 0.5% on paved surfaces and 1–2% on unpaved areas, confirmed by as-built survey before we release.
Grade Tolerances That Don't Meet Paving Subbase Requirements
Paving contractors need a subbase graded to within +0 / -0.1 foot of design before they lay base rock. When rough grade is too high or too low, rework eats time and budget. We target finish tolerance from the start and coordinate with the paving sub so handoffs happen without delay.
Elevation Conflicts Between Building Pad and Parking Field
Transitioning from building finish floor elevation to parking field grade — while maintaining ADA-compliant slopes and positive drainage — requires precise grading control. We model the transition geometry and flag potential conflicts with the civil engineer before the first pass.
GPS or Laser Data That's Not Synced to Current Plan Set
Running machine control from an outdated design file is a common mistake on fast-moving projects. We verify that our machine control data matches the current approved plan set before grading begins, and we update field data when plan revisions are issued.
Grading Capabilities
Rough Grade
Initial earthwork pass that moves the site from raw cleared ground to approximate design elevations. This is the mass-movement phase — dozer and scraper work — that establishes the basic shape of the site before fine grading begins.
Design Grade (Engineered Grade)
Grading to the engineered design elevations shown on the civil drawings — including drainage swales, detention pond slopes, roadway crowns, and pad perimeter grades. Tolerances are held per the project specification.
Finish Grade (Subgrade)
The final trimming and shaping pass that brings the subgrade to the tolerance required for paving, base rock, or slab placement. Typically held to within +0 / -0.1 foot on paved areas.
GPS Machine Control Grading
Motor graders and dozers equipped with 3D GPS systems reference the digital design model in real time, reducing stakes and improving accuracy — especially on large, complex grade transitions.
Laser-Controlled Grading
Laser systems used for close-tolerance finish work on parking areas, building pads, and sports fields where consistent slope and elevation control over large flat areas is required.
Drainage Slope Verification
We verify that all graded surfaces meet the minimum slope requirements — 0.5% on paved areas, 1–2% on landscaped and unpaved areas — before calling a grade complete. Flat spots and reverse slopes are corrected before handoff.
Swale & Ditch Construction
Roadside swales, bio-swales, and drainage ditches graded to engineered cross-section and profile. Slope and bottom width tolerances are maintained for proper flow velocity and capacity.
As-Built Grade Coordination
We coordinate with the survey crew for as-built spot elevations at critical locations — pad corners, swale inverts, pond bottoms, curb returns — to confirm design grades before releasing the site.
How It Works
Design File Verification
We load the current civil drawings into our machine control system and verify that design elevations, drainage patterns, and cross-slopes match the approved plan set. Discrepancies are flagged to the engineer before work begins.
Rough Grade Pass
Dozers and scrapers move bulk material to approximate design elevations, establishing the site's gross shape. Cut and fill areas are identified and balanced as earthwork progresses.
Design Grade to Tolerance
Motor graders with GPS or laser control bring the site to engineered design elevations — pads, parking fields, swales, and slopes. Tolerance is confirmed at representative spot checks.
Finish Grade & Acceptance
Final trimming brings paved-area subgrade to the tight tolerances required for paving subs. Slope verification, as-built coordination, and written acceptance are completed before handoff.
Industries We Serve
Grading Service Area
We perform commercial site grading throughout Central Florida — approximately a 100-mile radius of Orlando. Active coverage includes Orange, Lake, Seminole, Osceola, Volusia, Brevard, Polk, Sumter, Marion, and neighboring counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between rough grade, design grade, and finish grade?+
Rough grade is the initial earthmoving pass that gets the site to approximate elevations — typically within 0.5 to 1.0 foot of design. Design grade brings the site to engineered elevations per the civil drawings, including drainage patterns and swale inverts. Finish grade is the final precision pass that trims the subgrade to the tolerance required for paving, slab, or base rock placement — usually within 0.1 foot of design on paved areas.
Why does a minimum 0.5% slope matter so much in Florida?+
Florida receives heavy rainfall — often multiple inches in short periods — on sites with very little natural relief. A slope below 0.5% on a paved surface doesn't generate enough velocity to move water to drainage inlets. The result is standing water, accelerated pavement failure, and potential liability for the owner and GC. We design and grade to the minimum slopes specified in the civil drawings and confirm them before handoff.
What is GPS machine control and how does it improve grading accuracy?+
GPS machine control uses a digital model of the design surface loaded into the grader or dozer's onboard computer. The system reads the machine's real-time position relative to design and guides the blade to the correct elevation continuously. This reduces the need for grade stakes, speeds up the grading process, and improves accuracy — especially on large, open sites with complex grade transitions.
What grading tolerance do paving subcontractors typically require?+
Most paving specifications require a prepared subgrade within +0 to -0.1 foot (+0 to -30mm) of design grade before base rock or asphalt placement. We communicate directly with the paving sub to confirm their tolerance requirement and provide a graded surface that allows them to proceed without rework.
Can you match existing grades at project boundaries and adjacent properties?+
Yes. Tying into existing pavement, curb, adjacent pads, or property lines is part of every grading scope. We survey existing elevations at the boundary before grading begins and design our transition grades accordingly — avoiding abrupt elevation changes or negative drainage toward neighboring properties.
Do you provide as-built documentation after grading is complete?+
We coordinate with the survey crew to capture as-built spot elevations at critical locations — pad corners, swale inverts, pond bottoms, and grade breaks — as part of project closeout. As-built records are submitted to the GC and owner per the project requirements.
Get a Bid
Get a Bid on Your Grading Project
Send us your civil drawings, site address, and any geotech data — our team will review the scope and respond within one business day.
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